Material treating apparatus



july 2%, 93?. c. P. T OLMAN 2,08Z5

MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 14, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet l `uly 20, 193?. c. P. TQLMAN MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS lO Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 14, 1931 /NVENTOR W Y//ag/ DZk my zo, 1937.

c. P. TOLMAN 2,0875@ MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed ApIil- 14, 1951 lO Sheets-Shee. 3

2 #KENTOR AHORA/EY July 20, 1937. c. P. .ToLMAN MATERIAL 'If-HEATING APPARATUS original Filed April 14, 1951` 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 VENTOR July 20, 1937.

c. P. ToLMAN 2,087,561

MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 14, 193i lO Sheets-Sheet 5 Y /wr July 20, 771937' c. P. TOLMAN MATERIAL TREATING' APPARATUS Original Filed April 14, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 20, 1937. Q P TOLMAN 2,()87561 MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 14, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 j INVENTo/g 7M BY 11M/jf im if ,4 TTORNE YJ July 20, 1937. 12.l P. roLMAN MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS 1o sheets-sheet e Original Filed April 14, 1931 L ATTORNEYJ Y lNvENToR July 20, 1937. c. P. 'roLMAN MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 14, 1931 10 Sheets-Shea?l 9 8/ l WW U l l l /dw VENTO/e BY WIA/J7 i /V A TTRNEY- July 20, 1937.. c. `P ToLMAN 2,087,561

MATERIAL. TREATING APPARATUS original Filed' Apri1r14, 1931 1o sheets-sheet 1o INVENTOR Patented July 20, 1937 N misti MATERIAL 'rREA'riNG nrrana'rus Machine C0., Hoosick Falls, N. Y.,

. tion of New York a corpora- Application April 14, 1931, Serial No. 529,963 Renewed March 41, 1937 22 claims.` (el. zza-1i) The present invention relates to'an improvement in material treating apparatus. One object has been to provide in the eld of homogen- .izing, deocculating, dispersing, reducing machines and .the like, an improved device which, while permitting full realization of the .useful phenomenaincident to lmshearing, presents advantages over previously known` material treating devices both in respect to per-unit outp ut of treated material and range of variety in treatments and products. Reference is made herein to copending applications as follows: Serial No. 717,717, filed by me March 28, 1934 relating to Stui treatment apparatus, wherein the stator element includes a plurality of shoes arranged to be operated singly or in series by hydrauliemeans, and the working periphery f the rotor` isi-.provided with grooves; Serial No. 60,470, led by me January 23, 1936, relating to a Method of treating fibrous material, said application being a continuation of Serial No. 717,717 aforesaid; Sirial No. 717,719', led by James 'I'. Coghill, March 28, 1934, relating to Feed 'pressure control apparatus; and Serial No.717, 718, iiled by James T. Coghill and Charles P. Tolman, March 28, 1934, and relating toa Stui treatment machine and junk remover," patent thereon No. 2,042,566 having issued June 2, 1936. Known types of material treating devices such as colloid mills are equipped with rotors designed to operate at peripheral speeds between five thousand and fifteen thousand feet per minute; and, in general, the shearing gap is of the order of .005 to .008 of an inch. Experience demonstrates that their usefulness in industry is materially limited by their relatively small rate of output. Normally the solution of the problem would lie in increasing the size of the mill; but eorts in this direction have not succeeded, due in part to the extreme diiculty of making and maintaining under lworking conditions the extremely small clearances and tolerances permissible in f nlm shearingv operations. Furthermore,` even moderate increases in size introduce diiicultieso attendant upon the relatively large mass of metal necessarily set in motion during operation of the machine. For example, a rotor of 20' inch diameter may, when operating at shearing speeds, increase' its diameter by an amount equal tov a a substantial portion of the width of the shearing gap.

The foregoing and otherfproblems have limited the size and capacity-of colloidfmills tosuch an extent that they are not commercially available in many fields of industry even Where the principles products involved. Accordingly,` y object to provide a material treating machine. of the 'colloid mill type which by reason of its ca- 5 Y einselvesv most eSseSP'arid/Or g it hasgbeenmy of concia min practice'flnif favorably to the manufacturing pacity and other advantages will nd use in industrial fields where -the colloid mill, Aas now known, is` commercially inadequate..

a The matter of tolerances also bears importantly on problems connected with designing and manufacturing colloid mills. It is readily perceptible that in making a fixed gap machine where the practicalextent of gap liesbetween .005 and .008 of an inch, the dimculties off achieving precision are increased with larger l5 mills due to changes in stresses and strains incident to or following manufacturing processes, such, for example, as machining and heat treatment. It is therefore an object of my inventionl to provide a type of mill in which precision working tolerances may be established as needed and as an operating factor rather than as an incident of manufacture.

To those skilled in the art, it is well known that, in many instances, @a material after treatment in a colloid mill may be more readily and/or effectively treated `or chemically' combined with another or other materials. Although this is well understood and utilized to a limited extent in connection with present types of colloid mills, the character of apparatus now available is such Q that only a relatively small portion of the benecial eifect can be secured. It is therefore a further object of my invention to provide material treating apparatus of the colloidmill type in which a given .material may be subjected to ,repeat'ed film shearing Yoperations in quick succession; or, if desired, La given material may, after a film shearing operation, be combined with or reacted o n by another material or agent during 40 a subsequent iilm shearing operation occurring in quick succession. In other Words, it is contemplated that my improved mill will permit the introduction or application of one or more additional materials to'a material being treated simul- `'45 taneously with and/or during lm shearing operation of the machine, said ladditional treatment being effected simultaneously with and as Aa continuation of any preceding film shearing op- .feration performed in the same or similar manner.

VIn securing the increased capacityhreinabve 'referred to,'I have proceeded'on vthe theory` that the lm shearing orcombined shearingy and, pressing eifect upon any given raw materialor upon any material of given predetermined char-4 y55 acteristic, assuming proper adjustments of the shearing gap and/or pressure on the material under treatment therein in a suitable mill, is accomplished almost instantaneously; and that continued or extended film shearing or pressing treatment thereafter is largely at the expense of a corresponding waste of power. Furthermore, in many types of mills energy is unproductively expended by driving the rotor with its nonshearing surfaces in friction producing and rotor retarding relation to iixed portions of the machine and/or to masses of the material under treatment. Accordingly, one phase of my present invention involves the use of a plurality of stators, for example, all cooperating simultaneously if desired with a single rotor, each stator when combined with the rotorproviding in effect a lm shearing unit having means foradmitting material on the receiving side and means for discharging material on the outlet side. Since the output rate of such a machine operating with substantially constantfeed pressure is in some measure dependent upon the number of statcr units combined with a single rotor, it is apparent that I can readily produce a mill adapted for a.`

wide range of commercial uses and having a productive capacity measurably in excess of the maximum output of known types of colloid mills. Another phase of my invention involves the mounting of the rotor in such relation to the casing and the stators that it is practically free running except for retarding forces operating wholly on its periphery during shearing. Accordingly, by confining energy expenditure almost entirely to productive work done in the hydraulic shearing zones at the rotor periphery, my improved mill construction poss-esses greatly increased per horsepower hour capacity, as compared to other known mills intended for the same or similar purposes.

A further object of my inventionhas been to provide a material treating machine in which the parts are readily adjustable to" adapt them more quickly and effectively to the peculiar requirements of different Imaterials and/or different pr ducts. For this purpose the opposed rotor and stator working surfaces are preferably capable of adjustment both as to the extent of the lm shearing gap and therefore of the pressure exerted on material undergoing treatment between them and/or as to their angular relationship, thus enabling one machine to operate over an extended field, as compared with that of known colloid mills. Furthermore, with this type of mill, one of the working surfaces, as that of the stator, may be held in operative position by yielding means either combined with or independent of the gap adjusting devices, thus introducing not only an important safety factor in a machine normally operating at high speeds, but also making possible the control of the operation in respect to pressure on the material under treatment as distinguished from extent of gap. The terms film pressure and shearing gap pressure as used herein mean the effective pressure applied to the material during treatment between the rotor periphery and the stator.

A further object has been to provide a material treating machine which affords varied control of the feeding and discharge of treated ma.

terial. For this purpose, the inlets and outlets may be readily connected and/or disconnected with a minimum of interruption in operations. Other advantages and beneficial features of my invention will be apparentfrom the following detion of a portion of tie apparatus with statorv units in operative position;

Figure 2, a transverse radial section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3, an enlarged central longitudinal section of one form of stator unit including a shearing shoe and pressure actuated means for moving said shoe toward the rotor;

Figure 4, an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing interior portions of the stator and pressure control units;

Figure 5, an enlarged section'on the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6, an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7, an enlarged sectional fragmentary view of a modified form of pressure and gap control mechanism;

Figure 8, a fragmentary end view showing the top of one of the pressure units in its relation tc the housing and with connections for supplying air under pressure to and venting air from interior portions of the unit;

Figures 9, a schematic representation of the rotor in relation to a plurality of stators and control devices for regulating shearing gap or working pressure between they stator and the rotor illustrating a multiple mode of operation, that is,

one in which material to be treated is fed simultaneously to a plurality of material treating zones and the output therefrom is continuously withdrawn;

Figure 15, a similar view of the apparatus of Figures lato 3 inclusive slightly modified to effect repeated treatment of material in series;

Figure 16, a similar View of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive with slight modifications to illustrate a mode of operation involving combined series treatment and the introduction of additional materials at different points in the progressive treatment of the material rst introduced;

Figure 17, a sectional view showing a modication in which the inlet conduit carries material direct to the shearing surface of the rotor;

Figure 18, a section on th'e line IlI--IB of Figure 17;

Figure 19, a bottom plan View of one form of shoe as shown in Figures 17 4and 18;

Figure 20, a bottom plan view-of another form of shoe in which the character of the roughencd shearing surface differs from that of the shoe illustrated in Figure 19; and

Figure 21, a section, illustrating a modification. in which the stator overlaps edge portions of the rotor.

Referring tothe drawings, my invention is conveniently embodied in apparatus in which -a housing or maincasing is formed preferably of two substantially identical cooperating parts, as castings 2 and 3, having contiguous overlapping annular flanges Il and 5 respectively, held togetherby any suitable means such as bolts 8. When so assembled, said castings provide in effect three means such as a U-shaped fitting or return bend I3, Figures 15 and 16. The plugs I2 and the return bends I3 are positioned and adapted to be readily applied and removed; access being. had thereto through openings Ill in .the outer side walls of the chambers 8 and 9 respectively. One

or more .of these openings on each side may be ,provided with inlet means I5 and/or outlet means I6. Although the elements just referred to are identified respectively as inlet means and outlet means, it is'contemplated that under some conditions of operation the outlets may well serve as inlets and the inlets serve asoutlets. They are broadly. therefore shearing compartment ports communicating with the interiors of the respective side or conduit chambers 8 and I0 or other material supplying or holding means. A The Openings I4 are normally closed by suitable means, as removable cover plates I1.

A rotor I8 is concentrically mounted in a rotor chamber provided in the main casing and with a portion of its` peripheral working or shearing surface exposed within the yshearing chamber 1. A rotor carrying shaft I9 has its opposite ends journaled in bearings 28 carried by Spiders 2|, Figure 2, which span-the end Openings of the rotor. chamber and which are preferably removable so that the rotor may be readily inserted and removed from operative position without dismantling the casing. With this form of rotor mounting, the end faces thereof run free, thereby confining power expenditure in operation chiefly to effective work done at the periphery of the rotor in shearing the film. The casing is provided with inwardly extending annular fianges 22,

forming with adjacent walls thereof an annular groove or recess adapted to accommodate packing strips oi :ings 23 or the like, operatively arranged in effective packing relation to the edge portions of the shearing surface of rotor I8 which with shaft I9 is actuated by any suitable means such as a motor, not shown. As indicated in Figures 4 and 6, the inner face. of each packing ring 23 is provided with a shallow spiral groove |23 having its inner end opening upon the inner edge of said ring and in such a direction that material leaking from the shearing compartment into said spiral grooves tends tobe drawn inwardly toward the rotor during normal operation. l

In the form of device illustrated in' Figures y 1 and 2 .material to be treatedis moved into a shearing gap or treatment; zonev .between the peripheral vsurface of rotor I8 andY the' working.'

surfaces of stators or 'shoes 24. It is contemplated, however, that the shearing or other effect `ploying .a plurality of stator members or shoes 24 in operative association with a single rotor member I8, a. bale 25 is interposed in the work or shearing chamber 'I between each two adjacent shoe members 24 and extending transversely across said chamber in the space between adjacent openings in the side thereof so that, under some conditions of operation, one of said openings may function as an inlet to admit material for treatment at one end or the shoe member 24 while the other opening permits discharge of the treated material as it comes from the opposite end thereof. Other operative arrangements of these parts will be more fully considered hereinafter.

In the apparatus shown in Figure 3, the stator in the form` of a shoe 24 pivotally mounted at 26 as part of a removable stator unit including a casing 33 is provided with a working or shearing surface and an approach or converging guiding surface arrangedat an'angle thereto at the approach or material inlet end of the stator so that the material to be treated is in effect wedged a portion thereof conforms somewhat to the contour of the peripheral surface of thel rotor and when in operative position provides a restricted gap between the-rotor and the stator within or in connection with which the typical disintegrating, mixing, or shearing action takes place. This shearing gap surface may be smooth or it may include roughened portions as 2l; or the stator may'carry aremovable' and/or renewable insert, as 28, of a different material from the material of the stator or having characteristics different from those of the material of the stator, such for example as would render it too expensive or unsuited to constitute the whole body of the stator.

In the modication shown in Figures 17 to 20 inclusive, the shoe 28 is provid-ed with laterally disposed guiding flanges |24 at opposite sides of 'the entrance throat; andthe shearing faceinay be roughened by providing the angularly shaped grooves |21 as in Figure 19, the parallel grooves I 21a as in Figure 20, or other suitable irregular surface markings or deformations. l

Although the stator, in some embodiments of my invention, may be rigidly mounted in relation to the rotor I8 so 'as to define a gap of fixed dimension therebetween, I prefer to mount the stator in adjustable relation to the rotor to vary the gap within which the shearing operation takes place or to vary the pressure on the material under treatmentl vin said gap. Any suitable means for effecting this result may be utilized although a preferred'form, shown in detail in Figure 3, includes a stator moving member, as a` `29 is assembled with its inner end in the casing or stator carrier unit 33 adapted to be removably secured to the castings 2 and 3. In the form shown, vthe piston rod is moved forwardly by pneumatic means including annular diaphragme n I297 embracing said piston rod and secured thereto between spaced collars 30 and discs 3|. Pe-

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vripheral portio-ns of each disc 3| and diaphragm tion by means of washers 36, secured to the partition members by means of rivets 31 or the like.

Spaced rods 38 having their lower ends pivotally secured to ribs 39 extending upwardly from the stator adjacent to its outlet end have their respective free ends extending into recesses 40 in the removable casing 33, Figure 4. Each free end is provided with spaced washers 4| and 42, and a terminal nut 43. A spring 44 interposed between the washers 4| and 42 tends to move the rod 38 upwardly or outwardly away from the rotor I8 and in the absence of spring compressing pressure on the diaphragms |29, holds the stator 24 in retracted position in relation to said ro-tor.

Downward endwise movement of the piston rod |28 with its head 29 bearing against an upper surface of the stator 24 causes said stator to be deflected toward the rotor against resistance of the springs 44 above referred to. Where this endwise movement of the piston rod is effected by fluid pressure, I provide actuating devices therefor including the diaphragm construction hereinabove described and means for supplying .air or other suitable fluid under pressure at the upper side of said diaphragms. As indicated in Figure 3, a branch air line, as 59, communicates with an inlet duct 46 extending through portions of the partitions 32, each of which is provided with a communicating air passage 41. Thus, when air under pressure is admitted to the inlet duct 46, it is eifectively distributed into the space between each partition 32 and the adjacent lower diaphragm |29 which then moves toward the adjacent lower disc 3|. The space between the other or lower side of each diaphragm and the upper side of the next lower partition 32 is vented to atmosphere by any suitable conduit arrangement extending from said sp-ace to the outerv air, es for example, through passages 48 connected with vent ducts 49, Figures 5 and 6. Another duct 346 communicating with the spaces above the diaphragms |29 is normally closed by a cap I4?, As shown in Figure 8, a pipe |49 may be inserted between duct |46 and one of the vent ducts 49 thus connecting the spaces at both sides of the diaphragm with the airpressure supply for the purpose of clearing or blowing out said spaces.

In this case the air admitted under pressurethrough pipe 59 will be vented through the other of the vent ducts 49.

Suitable means are provided for adjustably limiting the extent of movement between the stators and the rotor. In the illustrated embodiment, wherein the stator is movable toward and away from the rotor, and where a portion of this movement, as toward the rotor, is effected by means of a piston rod |28, operated as hereinbefore described, or in any other suitable way, I provide adjustable means for limiting the extent of said movement. For this purpose, Figure 3, a bushing 50 is screw-threaded into the casing 33 and embraces the shank of piston |28, at the outer end of which is a threaded portion carrying a nut 5|. To provide the necessary strength, both sets of threads are relatively coarse; and to permit a ne or substantially micrometer adjustment of the parts, the number of threads per inch on the bushing is different by a small amount from the number of threads per inch on the nut. In the illustrated device, the threads on the bushing 50 are on the order of four and one-half threads per inch of length, whereas the threads on the nut 5| are on the order of four threads per inch of length. Thus, with the bushing 59 in position and the piston and associated parts in assembled relation thereto, the outer face of the bushing 5'0 cooperating with the inner face of said nut, 5| forms a stop to limit the inward movement of said piston rod |28.

By suitably adjusting the position of rotation of the bushing 50, in relation to sa'id casing 33, and by the coordinated rotation of nut 5| effected by a pin 52 connecting said nut and said bushing, the minimum gap position of the stator 24 is accurately .fixed In other words,`this adjustment determines the limit of movement of the stator toward the rotor when urged by the pneumatic pressure devices. If desired, this or other position or positions of adjustment may be effectively fixed and/ or predetermined and made readily available by suitable means. For exv ample, the bushing 50 and nut 5| are operatively connected in any predetermined relation by means of said pin. 52 which has a threaded head portion engaging an interiorly threaded portion of a recess in the nut 5| and having an end portion extending into a recess in the bushing 50. Obviously, a number of recesses in the bushing may be provided to dene a corresponding number of different positions of gap adjustment. In the form of device shown in Figure 1, the limit of upward movement of the head of piston rod |28 is, the bottom surface of the lowermost partition 32.

In operation, the piston rod |28 is normally held in outward or retracted position by springs v 44, the extent of its movement being limited as above described. To diminish the working gap between the stator 24 and the rotor I8, either with the rotor operating or idle, air under pressure is admitted tothe duct 46 and actuates the parts as above described to force the piston rod |28 downwardly and against a portion of the upper surface of stator 24. When the stator is at its minimum gap position or somewhere between said minimum and maximum positions, the uid under pressure serves as a cushion or resilient body against which the pressure Within the gap exerts itself o r is balanced. Thus, the described arrangement constitutes means for regulating or varying the gap and for introducing a safety factor to compensate for or to prevent excessive or destructive pressures between the shoe and the rotor.

In connection with the gap `and lm pressure y control devices hereinabove described, I utilize in a preferred embodiment of my apparatus, suitable means for indicating pressure conditions at the gap' or at other predetermined positions. .L

For this-purpose, as shown in Figures 3 and 9 an opening 80 in the shearing .surface of the stator 24 communicates with a passage 8| which in turn is connected with a conduit 93 having a suitable pressure registering instrumentality 84, Figure 9.

As indicated-in Figure 9, air under pressure from any suitable source, as a tank |59, is controllably supplied to one or more of the several units either direct or through controlling devices if desired.

Referring to Figure 9, wherein my improved apparatus is illustrated as including a plurality of. stators 24, I have also provided means for independently and/or collectively varying the manipulating the valves 60.

shear gaps and/or the pressure on material therein, said means including the branch air lines 59 each having a valve 60 and all communicating with a main air line 6I having a controlling valve 62. Thus, with the va1ve=62 open, individual adjustments or variations of the gap between the rotor and the several stators may be made by If collective and simultaneous adjustment or variation of the gaps or pressure on the material therein is required, the valves 6|) all remain as set and valve 62 is manipulated.

A device for manual adjustment of the stator is shown in Figures 10 and 11 wherein the piston I28a is provided with a head |51 which has a iiexible connection with shoe 53, through the bolts |58. A spring I 59a. is operatively interposed between the upper face of theshoe and the lower surface of the head of each bolt. In this construction, the shoe is moved either way depending on whether the piston I28a moves inwardly or outwardly in response -to turning of the threaded bushing 50a and the nut Ela by the handle 58a. This construction provides an eective and simple manual gap and pressure control where the more complicated automatic control is not required.

In connection with parts of the structure shown in Figures i0 and 11, I may utilize the modification shown in Figure '1 wherein the lower end of piston I 28a` is provided with a terminal ball |2817 engaging a suitable socket forming nart of the shoe and thus affording a flexible connection between said shoe and the unit casing 33 which carries means for electing endwise movement of piston rod I28a, as shown in Figure 10 for example.

In the modification illustrated-inFigures 12 and 13, a rotor. 10 is operatively mounted in a casing-provided with 'spaced annular partitions 1Ia extending inwardly from the outer wall of the casing toward the periphery of the rotor and forming in effect thev side walls of an annular compartment or chamber divided into separate shearing compartments which open toward the rotor. Transverse baies 12 extending inwardly from the casing and arranged'at spaced intervals between the said partitions 1Ia form in eif'eot the end or dividing walls of said separate shearing compartments. The inwardly exposed openings of said compartments are closed by the per'ipheral surface of rotor 10 co-operating with the ends of said bales 12 and the inner edges of the partitions 1Ia. Each shearing compartment is further sub-divided into inlet and outlet compartments by means of a partition 1I 'arranged transversely therein and which carries an adjustthe inlet compartment aiords an inlet for the material to be treated, and an opening 15, Figure 13, in ,the partition 1Ia at the opposite side of the outlet compartment provides an outlet `for the treated material.

mitted into a compartment through inlet opening 1i and delivered upon the periphery of theA rotor Thus, when material is ad-v in advanc of e' stator, rotation of the rotor forces said material into and through the gapat 13 where it is subjected to the desired hydraulic shearing effect after which it is discharged from the voutlet compartment through an y utlet opening 15.

As shown more clearly in Figure 1 3, .the stator portions 13 may take the form of'adjustable shoes Iin which case their positions insrelation to the rotor are controlled by suitable devices. Forexample such a shoe is provided withslots 16 cooperating with pins 11 mounted on carriers 18 secured to a removable base 19`.provided with a bearing lug for a screw 8| which is threaded right handedly into one of said carriers and left handedly into the other. By turning said screw, the shoe is advanced toward or retracted from the rotor, as desired to adjust the extent of opening of the shearing gap or the pressure on the material therein.

' In Figures 14, 15 and 16 respectively, I have i1- lustrated schematically three different modes of arrangement of Figure 14, the side chamber 8 is adapted to receive material to be treated through inlet I5. The several stators, represented as 24a,

24h, 24e and 24d are positioned with their shearing surfaces in opposed relation to a rotor (not shown). Material to .be treated is admitted at .the inlet side of the stator 24a', for example,

through one of the openings I0. A corresponding opening I I, opposite said opening Ill and communicating with the discharge or side chamber 9 is closed by means of a plug I2, Accordingly, the

material to be treated moves in the direction of yrespect to the remaining stators is simultaneous with .and the same as that above described so that the machine is now performing as the equivalent of four film shearing devices, the combined output of which discharges" through the outlet I6.4 1

In casean obstruction occurs at the inlet end of one of the stators, as 24a. for example, the plug I2 opposite the inlet opening I0 may be removed to permit dislodgmentand discharge ofthe obstructing objects or materials.

A somewhat diiierent result is eiectedby the arrangement illustrated schematically in Figure 15. Material to be treated is fed into the side chamber 8 through the inlet 'I5 and from said side chamber into the shearing chamber through inlet I9. The remaining inlets Ill are closed by :means of plugs I2 and the opening I I opposite the openinlet III is also closed by a plug, as I2. The remaining openings Ila, except the last one in the series, as IIb, shown at the right hand side of' Figure 15 are connected, as indicated, by

returnbends I3, the arrangement being such that an opening .'I Ia occurring at the discharge side of a stator astma is connected by the return bend I3 with an opening IIa communicating with the inlet side of the next stator 24h. A similar arrangement is eected .in relation to stat'ors 26h and Etc and 24d. Where the mili is made up in through outlet I 6.

effect of four units, as indicated, the opening IIb, appearing at the extreme right, serves as an outlet for discharging material into the side chamber 9 from which it may in turn be discharged With the parts arranged as hereinabove described, it will be clear that a single mill is made to operate in effect as a series of mills, the treated material being delivered Afrom one shearing zone into .position for treatment in another or in a plurality of shearing zones without leaving the machine and in a continuous operation, any suitable number or different numbers of stator units being connected to effect various predetermined results or products.

In the modified scheme of operation illustrated in Figure l16, the connections between shearing units are such that material may be added to partly or wholly treated material. For example, material is admitted through inlet I5 into the side chamber 8. The material then enters the shearing chamber of stator 24a through opening Il), some of the remaining openings being closed by plugs I2 depending on the results desired. In an illustrative case, all these openings except Ib and Ic are closed and the opening II opposite opening I0 is also closed by a plug I2. A return bend I3 connects the opening I Ia, associated with stator 24a, and the opening IIb associated with stator 24h in such a way as to conduct treated material from the chamber of 24a directly into the chamber of 24h for further shearing action therein. An inlet conduit |517 is provided to admitan added material through opening Illb into the shearing chamber of stator 2lb where it mixes or otherwise co- 4acts with the treated or partly treated material t from the shearing chamber of stator 24a. The

sheared product of stator 24h is then conducted through return bend I 3b into the shearing chamber of stator 24e. If further material is to be added to this product, an inlet conduit I5c admits such further added material through opening Inc into said chamber of stator 24a; and this material with the product from the preceding stator chamber'is. again subjected to shearing action. If the material requires further shearing treatment, the product from chamber 24c may be conducted through return bend I3c into the chamber of stator 24d from which it is discharged through opening II into side chamber 9 and from said side chamber '9 through outlet I6. Thus, with the parts arranged as above described, te apparatus functions partly as a film shearing apparatus and partly as a homogenizer or material mixing apparatus, thus producing in one continuous operation a result dilcult if not impossible to accomplish even by the repeated use of known types of colloid mills.

In the modification shown in Figures 17 and 18, a feed pipe 82 extends through one of the openings I4, across the feed chamber 8 and through an opening I0. Its inner end is bent downwardly to deliver material substantially upon a median zone of the peripheral surface of rotor I8. In operation, as the material strikes the surface of said rotor, it is promptly forced between the flanges |24 of the shearing shoe with a minimum of spreading or dispersed flow toward the lateral edges of the rotor and a consequent reduction of leakage past the packing rings 23. Obviously the return bends I3 may be provided with discharge spouts or extensions corresponding in function to the inner end of said feed pipe 82 and may be utilized either with or without a feed chamber as 8 or a discharge chamber as 9, depending upon the circumstances v involved in the contemplated dispersing or reducing operation.

Referring again to Figure 1, I provide means along the sides of the shoes 24 to minimize leakage or diversion of untreated material -from the inlet end of the shearing zone past the shoe to the outlet end. For this purpose I have found it effective to provide cuts or tapered channels, as 200, arranged in side faces of the shoes 24, and which under cut or extend beneath the Aedges of resulting or corresponding sharp detents 2G! presenting their edge portions in opposed relation to the direction of rotation of the rotor i8. These channels and detents intercept fibrous or other particles of material being treated until automatically formed barriers are built up between the shoes and adjacent interior surfaces of the casing, thus preventing or minimizing leakage past the shoes.

Reference is made herein to co-pending applications Serial No. 120,313, filed January l2, 1937, and Serial No. 120,314 filed January l2, 1937, wherein I claim certain subject matter` relating more particularly to junk removing means cooperating with the peripheral surface of the rotor to form a treating compartment having an inlet port at the inlet end of thestator and an outlet gort at the outlet end of said stator, whereby material to be treated isA first admitted through said inlet port, passes through the treatment zone with and in the direction of rotation of the rotor and is then discharged through said outlet port.

2. Apparatus according to claim l and further characterized in that the ystator is movable toward and from the rotor periphery, and cushioning means arranged in operative relation to the stator are provided to maintain a substantially constant predetermined pressure on material being treated between the rotor and the stator.

3. Apparatus according to claim -1 and further characterized in that two or more stators are mounted in the casing with their inner faces arranged to form, with the periphery ofthe sini gle rotor, as many treatment zones as there are stators, and partitions are provided to form separate treating compartments each having openings whereby untreated material is admitted to the inlet Aend of a stator and the treated material is discharged from the outlet end thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further characterized in that an inlet conduit extends into the treating compartment and provides an opening through which to deposit untreated' material on a portion of the peripheral surface of the rotor in advance of the stator.

5. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a casing having walls arranged to define a rotor chamber, a feeding chamber, a disrotor mounted inv the rotor chamber with its periphery extending across and closing said opening, a stator in the treating compartment in operative working relation to the rotor, an opening from the feeding chamber to the treating compartment to admit material to be treated therein and an opening in the Wall from said treating compartment-to the discharge chamber to discharge treatedmaterial.

6. In materiaitreating apparatus, the combination of a casing having spaced concentric walls and spaced partitions arranged between said concentric walls to form therewith a rotor chamber, a feeding chamber, a discharge chamber, and a treating compartment arranged between said feeding and discharge chambers and having an opening directed toward .the rotor chamber,

, a rotor, in the rotor chaniber with its peripheral surface extending across said opening, a stator in the treating compartment, an inlet opening in one of said partitions between the treating compartment and thefeeding chamber, and a discharge opening in one of said partitions between the treating compartment and the discharge chamber.

7. In material treating apparatus, the comblnation of a rotor having a peripheral working surface, a casing arranged around said rotor and providinga rotor 'chamber and a treating compartment having an inner opening into said rotor chamber, and an outer opening oppositethereto, an inlet port for admitting material to be treated into the treating compartment, an outlet port for discharging/treated material from said compartment, a. stator in said treatingA compartment between said ports, and means for releasably supporting the stator in opposed relation to the Working surface of therotor to form a treatment zone extending transversely across the compartment, said stator being insertable into andremovable from the compartment through said outer opening.

8. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a casing having spaced partitions' arranged to form the side Walls of a treating compartment, a feed chamber at one side thereof and a discharge chamber at the other side there-l of, one of said spaced partitions being provided with an inlet port for admitting material toI the treating compartment, and the otherof said spaced partitions having a discharge port for discharging material from said compartment, an annular partition forming the peripheral wall of a rotor chamber and separating said chamber A from said feed and discharge chambers, an opening through said annular partition between the treating compartment and the rotor chamber, a stator arranged in the treating compartment between said ports, and a rotor mounted in the rotor chamber and having portions',of its peripheral surface exposed in theV treating compartment through said opening in theannular partition and in operative relation to the stator to form therewith a treatment zone.

#9. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor having -a peripheral working surface, a casing having partitions which cooperate with said working surface to form a plurality of separately operative treating compartments Within the casing, an inlet port for each of said compartments for admitting material to be treated andan outlet port for each of said compartments todischarge treated material, and a stator in each treating compartmentopera.- tively arranged in relation -to therotor working surface to provide a treatment zone between saidy ports.

i3. In material treating apparatus, the com-A bination of a rotor having a peripheral working surface, a casing having walls arranged to form 'a central rotor chamber for housing Asaid rotor a treatment zone,` an inlet port for admitting material into each. treating compartment, and an outlet port for dischargingtreated material therefrom.

11. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor having a peripheral working surface, a plurality of stators arranged radially in opposed relation to portions of said surface to form therewith a plurality of spaced treatment zones, means for delivering material to the inlet end of eachrzone, means for discharging material from the outlet end of each zone, and baiiles disposed between said zones and adapted to cooperate with the rotor working, surface to intercept and guide material treated in said several zones.

12. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a, rotor having a peripheral working surface, a plurality of stators arranged in opposed relation to spaced portions ofV said surface to form a plurality of spaced treatment zones, bailles disposed between said zones and adapted to cooperate With the roto working surface to intercept d guide material treated in said zones, inlet ports each having an effective opening between a baiiie and an inlet end of a zone, and outlet ports each having an opening between the outletend of said zone and the -next adjacent baille.

13. In material treating apparatus, the com- Ibination'of a rotor having a peripheral working surface, a. plurality of stators arranged in opposed relation to spaced portions of said surface' and means which in cooperation with said stators form spaced and separate treatment zones, and material inlet and outlet means arranged between adjacently disposed stators, said inlet means being arranged and adapted to feed material to the rotor working surface at one end of each stator, and said outlet means being arranged and adapted to 'intercept and discharge'treated material from the other end thereof.

14. In material treating apparatus, the com- I bination of a rotor having a peripheral'working surface, a plurality of stators arranged in opposed relation to spaced portions of said surface and means which in cooperation with said stators form spaced and separate treatment zones, material inlet means at one end and material outlet means at the other end of the stator, and a baille operatively positioned between the outlet end of each stator and the inlet end of the next stator in the direction of rotation of the rotor.

1.5. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor having a peripheral working surface, a casing having partitions arranged in cooperating relation with said surface to fo-rm side and end walls of a plurality of separately operative material confining and treating compartments disposed radially around the periphery of f the rotor, an inlet port and an outlet port for each compartment, and a stator in each compartment .between the inlet and outlet ports thereof and cooperating with said rotor to form therewith a ytreatment zone.

15. In material treating apparatus, the corn.

bination of a rotor having a peripheral Working surface, a plurality of stators in opposed relation to spaced portions thereof to form treatment zones, a'casing carrying said rotor and said stators said zones and a manifold operatively connecting the inlet openings of some of said zones.

17. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor having a peripheral working surface, a casing having partitions arranged in cooperative relation with said surface to form the side and end walls of a plurality of separately operative material co-niining and treating compartments positioned radially around the periphery of the rotor, an inlet port and an outlet port for each compartment, a stator in each compartment between the inlet and outlet ports thereof and cooperating with said rotor to form a treatment zone, and a conduit having one end opening into one of said compartments andv the other end opening into another of said compartments and adapted to convey material treated in said one compartment from that compartment into said other compartment.

18. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a casing having wall portions which define a rotor chamber provided with an end opening, and a material treating compartment surrounding a portion of said chamber and having an inwardly directed opening into said rotor chamber, a rotor adapted to be inserted into said rotor chamber and removed therefrom through said end opening, rotor supporting bearings removably mounted in said end opening to receive a rotor in position with portions of its peripheral surface exposed in said treating compartment through said inwardly directed opening and eiectively separating said compartment from communication with'the rotor chamber, a plurality of stators in the treating compartment, an inlet opening in the treating compartment for each stator for material to be treated therein, an outlet opening in said treating compartment for each stator to discharge treated material and baffles arranged in said treating compartment between the outlet opening of each stator and the inlet opening of an adjacent stator Aand adapted to intercept treated material and guide it to said respective outlet openings.

19. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a casing having walls adapted and arranged to form a rotor chamber and a plurality of separate stator compartments, a rotor mounted in the rotor chamber and a stator mounted in "each of the stator compartments in operative relation to Ithe rotor and adapted to form with 'saidrotor a plurality of independently operable treatment zones, means for feeding material to the inlet end of each zone, and means for discharging material from vthe outlet end of each zone.

20. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a casing having walls adapted and arranged to form a rotor chamber and a plurality of separated stator compartments, a rotor mounted in the rotor chamber and a stator mounted in eachof the stator compartments in operative relation to the rotor and adapted to form with said rotor a plurality of independently operable treatment zones, each of said stator compartments being provided with an inlet port for delivering material into contact with the rotor in advance of the stator in such compartment and with an outlet port for discharging material from said compartment after treatment therein.

21. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a casing comprising an outer wall and an inner annular wall arranged to form a rotor chamber and a peripherally arranged treating compartment surrounding a portion of said chamber, an opening through said inner wall between the treating compartment and the rotor chamber, and spaced lateral walls defining the` sides of said treating compartment, a rotor operatively arranged with portions of its peripheral surface disposed in said treating compartment and closing said opening, stators positioned between said lateral walls and cooperating with said rotor to form treatment zones, and said lateral walls having inlet and outlet openings in operative relation with each of said stators and adapted respectively to admit untreated material into the treating compartment and to discharge treated material therefrom, and baffles arranged in the treating compartment and adapted to intercept treated material and guide it to said outlet opening. g

22. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further characterized in that the casing includes a plurality of treating compartments, each having an inlet port and an outlet 'port and partitions arranged and adapted to define respectively a chamber or manifold for presenting a supply of untreated material in position to be fed into said compartment through said inlet port and a chamber or manifold adapted to receive material as it is discharged from said compartment through said outlet port.

CHARLES P. TOLMAN. 

